Musketry

A heavy trampling of steps—clashing as if of swords—several rounds of musketry—screams—shouts—rose in the direction of the court.

Nor was this less ominous than the rattle of musketry, for it suggested but a single solution to the little band of rescuers—that the illy garrisoned village had already succumbed to the onslaught of a superior force.